ABRAHAM LINCOLN AND THE COPPERHEADS

Scurrilous Copperhead pamphlet from 1864

If we think that our current political discourse has sunk to an all-time low, a look at the editorializing and pamphleteering by the Copperheads in the North against Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War might cause us to rethink.

From Wikipedia:

Wisconsin newspaper editor Marcus M. Pomeroy called Lincoln:

"Fungus from the corrupt womb of bigotry and fanaticism" and a "worse tyrant and more inhuman butcher than has existed since the days of Nero... The man who votes for Lincoln now is a traitor and murderer... And if he is elected to misgovern for another four years, we trust some bold hand will pierce his heart with dagger point for the public good."

Weeks and Pomeroy didn't hold back, and neither was from the South.

What has been is what will be,
and what has been done is what will be done;
there is nothing new under the sun.
(Ecclesiastes 1:9)

H/T to The Writer's Almanac.

"THERE IS A GREAT CHASM FIXED"

From xtranormal.

SINFUL HOMOSEXUAL RECIPE

Rob Tisinai at Box Turtle Bulletin posted a sinful, homosexual recipe for "Sweet Potato and Apricot Puree with Pecan Streusel". As Rob says, the recipe is too late for Thanksgiving but is suitable for Christmas dinner. The casserole sounds delicious, but I don't know that I can recommend the dish, because I agree with Rob that it's homosexual and sinful. But if you want to take the risk....

A BLESSED AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Collect of Thanksgiving Day

Almighty and gracious Father, we give you thanks for the fruits of the earth in their season and for the labors of those who harvest them. Make us, we pray, faithful stewards of your great bounty, for the provision of our necessities and the relief of all who are in need, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

For the Beauty of the Earth

We give you thanks, most gracious God, for the beauty of earth and sky and sea; for the richness of mountains, plains, and rivers; for the songs of birds and the loveliness of flowers. We praise you for these good gifts, and pray that we may safeguard them for our posterity. Grant that we may continue to grow in our grateful enjoyment of your abundant creation, to the honor and glory of your Name, now and for ever. Amen.

LATEST TSA

Don't blame me. Blame Doug.

ABOUT THE RELATIONAL CONSEQUENCES IN THE COVENANT...

...which certain supporters of the document claim are harmless and toothless, but which the Archbishop of Canterbury says we must have or the results for the Anglican Communion will be too horrible to contemplate, Jake, at Father Jake Stops the World, has a few words to say. As is so often the case, Jake gets to the heart of the matter. First off, he puts the relational consequences in the Daft Covenant in the form of a list. To see the 16 consequences in list format brings them into focus in a way is missed when the consequences are spread about in paragraphs. Jake calls our attention to no. 12 in the list, which reads:

• removal from the ACC Schedule of Membership

Fr Jake says:

I would suggest to those who are stridently claiming that this document is not "punitive" to carefully consider the above list of "consequences." Specifically, note that twelfth one: "removal from the ACC Schedule of Membership." Thats not getting grounded or sent to your room. That's getting kicked out of the house.

Harmless, toothless? Not punitive? I think not. Read Jake's entire post.

JESUS AND MO

Click on the strip for the larger view.

author says:

Oh no, it's a sentimental one. Emotional manipulation - what the desperate cartoonist resorts to when he can't think of a joke.

5 years old - who'd have believed it? If you want to make the boys happy on their birthday, why not buy a book? There's a 20% discount on all volumes from now until Christmas!

lulu.com

Peace and blessings,

J&M

I wiped a tear from me eye.

COMIC RELIEF - BIOLOGY EXAM

Students in an advanced Biology class were taking their mid-term exam before Thanksgiving break. The last question was, 'Name seven advantages of Mother's Milk,' worth 70 points or none at all. One student, in particular, was hard put to think of seven advantages. He wrote:

1.) It is perfect formula for the child.
2.) It provides immunity against several diseases.
3.) It is always the right temperature.
4.) It is inexpensive.
5.) It bonds the child to mother, and vice versa.
6.) It is always available as needed.

And then, the student was stuck. Finally, in desperation, just before the bell indicating the end of the test rang, he wrote...

7.) It comes in 2 cute containers.

He got an A.

And it was only right that he did.

Thanks to Doug.

"HOGWARTS FOR ANGLICANS"

From Rosie Harper, a newly-elected member of General Synod of the Church of England, in the Guardian:

Her Majesty the Queen, resplendent in peachy apricot, inaugurated the ninth General Synod of the Church of England in London on Tuesday.

For new synod members there was an initiation ceremony the day before. It was deemed necessary to introduce us to the inner circle of synodical process.

Central to becoming one of them is the ability to wield the magic zapper, imaginatively called the electronic voting device, and after careful coaching most of us acquired the power.
....

Maybe I had entered the world of Hogwarts for Anglicans. Church House corridors that seemed to go nowhere, pictures on the walls that winked knowingly at me. Would I be able to reconcile the dark arts of church politics and the openness and transparency of the gospel?

I should have known it would be thus. The elections were transparent as mud.
....

First came the dressing up – shivering in the cloister dressed in our academicals looking for all the world like escapees for Hogwarts, we began a very long wait in the cold. A long service in Westminster Abbey followed, and then synodical life began.
....

Dark arts or openness and transparency? The first session began with the presidential address. Our archbishop is a man of depth and integrity, not naturally given to dark arts. He spoke about the concept of a life well lived; what does that look like? A coherent Christian character; what is it? We were drawn in and wondered, beguiled by his gentle charming erudition, but everything stacked up in one direction. This was really an appeal for loyalty.
....

If you wondered where the spells were being brewed then you'd look no further than the labyrinthine corridors and committee rooms of Church House that seemingly conceal an underworld of Harry Potter gear. Down there groups huddled to plot strategy – cunning political and procedural techniques to wrong-foot their opponents.

For those of us in the US, who may be a bit confused by the workings of General Synod of the Church of England, Rosie 'splains it all. Please read the rest of her article if you desire true enlightenment.

Rosie Harper is vicar Great Missenden, chaplain to the bishop of Buckingham.

That would be Bishop Alan, the blogging bishop. Rosie is also quite attractive, which you will see if you click the link to the article. Not that Rosie's appearance has anything to do with anything....

STORY OF THE DAY - SUCCESSFUL HOLIDAY

Rules for a successful holiday: 1. Get
together with the family 2. Relive old
times 3. Get out before it blows

Brilliant advice!

From StoryPeople